Dan Patt

Dan Patt is a senior fellow with Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. His experience is at the intersection of technology, business, and national security strategy. His work at Hudson focuses on the role of information and innovation in national security.

Dr. Patt supports strategy at national security technology provider STR and supports Thomas H. Lee Partners’ automation and technology investment practice. He has more than 20 years of experience operationalizing emerging technology, including applied artificial intelligence, networked information systems, robotics, supply chain automation, and enterprise information technology. He holds advisory board roles at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Andrew W. Marshall Foundation.

Previously, Dr. Patt cofounded and was CEO of Vecna Robotics, a commercial venture-backed warehouse robotics and workflow orchestration company. Dr. Patt also served as deputy director for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Strategic Technology Office (STO), where he managed a portfolio of technology investments including command and control; decision aids; communications and networking; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and electronic warfare. He also launched the Mosaic Warfare initiative at DARPA. In 2017, Dr. Patt supported the deputy secretary of defense in leading an effort to define a new modernization initiative for the Department of Defense as part of the 2018 National Defense Strategy effort.

Dr. Patt previously held technical and leadership positions in the automotive and aerospace industries focusing on emerging technology, including robotic and uncrewed systems, process automation, and human-machine integration. His contributions to technology, national security, and business have been recognized with more than a dozen career honors and awards.

Dr. Patt received his BA, MS, and PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan.